Hampi

A perfect combination of timeless natural wonder and historical human impact, Hampi is the great city of Vijayanagar. The Tungabhadra river flows through Hampi, on the banks of which, it is said, the Goddess Hampi (Parvati) attained Lord Shiva. This city was praised by historians like, Nuniz and Paes, as being greater than Rome, its palaces plated with jewel-encrusted gold, simply the 'bets provided city in the world'. The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar kingdom, Hampi is full of delightful surprises.

History
Hampi, the seat of the famed Vijayanagara empire was the capital of the largest empire in post-mogul India, covering several states. The empire reigned supreme under Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor. The Vijayanagara empire stretched over at least three states - Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. The destruction of Vijayanagar by marauding Moghul invaders was sudden, shocking and absolute. They reduced the city to ruins amid scenes of savage massacre and horrors beggaring description.

Local Places To Visit
Most of the ruins are along the road leading from Kamalapura to Hampi. Three kms down the road, on a commanding site, stands the temple of Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy. It is built in the Dravidian style. Strange-looking fishes and marine monsters carved along its outer walls are worth noticing. The Hampi Bazaar, 35 yards wide and nearly 800 yards long was known to be a very beautiful street with very beautiful houses.

The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of the famous Hampi Bazaar. The temple has a 120 feet tall tower on its eastern entrance. The temple contains the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneswari. Parts of this temple are older than the Vijayanagar kingdom itself. The work of this style dates back to the 11th or 12th century. Nearby is the 6.7m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha. An inscription nearby states that it was hewn from a single boulder in 1528 during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya.

King's Balance : The King's Balance, where kings were weighed against grain, gold or money, which was subsequently distributed to the poor, the Queen's Bath, open to the sky, surrounded by a moat, with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains, that once spouted perfumed water.

Lotus Mahal : The fascinating two storeyed Lotus Mahal, adorned with recessed archways, are some of the major attractions of Hampi. The exquisite Lotus Mahal in the Womens' Enclosure was inspired by the beauty of woman. A little away, stands the crumbling watch tower, once guarded by eunuchs, from where the royal ladies could watch the festivities taking place.

Mahanavami Dibba : The flat platform of the Mahanavami Dibba proved an excellent vantage point for the royalty, from where they could feast their eyes on a city come to life during the nine, vibrant nights of Dussehra.